Over the past several years, we have seen nationwide efforts, often precipitated by unions, to increase the minimum wage at the local level to $15 as a means of addressing economic inequality. The movement, called the "Fight for $15," has seen some success in several states as well as in numerous cities. Cities such as Seattle, New York, San Francisco, and others in the Silicon Valley of California have adopted a $15 minimum wage, usually to be reached by incremental increases over a period of years. Interestingly, some of these cities are now seeking to accelerate the progression and go to $15 immediately. Emeryville, California, recently took its minimum wage to $15.20.
A recent report by the National Bureau of Economic Research concluded that in Seattle, the $15 mandate has, as some predicted, resulted in job losses and reduced work hours. Additionally, the state of Missouri recently rolled back a state-wide minimum wage increase for similar reasons. However, despite the negative outcomes, the efforts at the local level to require substantial increases in the minimum wage continue across the country, albeit at a slower pace. These efforts pre-date the current administration, which has very publicly promised to slow down the pace of regulation at the federal level. It is therefore difficult to ascribe any single cause for the increased local action. However, at present it continues to move forward and is even likely to accelerate.